CAMFAIDS summoned to police station for promoting homosexual practices

In Cameroon, the LGBTI advocacy group Camfaids has reopened its resource center and headquarters, which it closed for security sake as they claim on July 17 after a series of attacks. But Camfaids leaders immediately received a summons by the police to answer charges of “promotion of homosexual practices.”The anti-AIDS, pro-LGBTI rights group Camfaids issued the said communiqué.

Following the reopening of its headquarters and resource center after a one-week preventive closure resulting from a series of homophobic and transphobic attacks, Camfaids has received a summons to appear at the 5th district police station to answer accusations of “promoting homosexual practices.”

On Friday, July 28, 2017, the neighborhood leader representing the Yaounde neighborhood known as Titi Garage, filed a complaint against representatives of Camfaids, who were summoned to present themselves on Monday, July 31, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. at the 5th district police station on the grounds: “promotion of homosexual practices.” An account of what happened at the meeting is currently unavailable.

Members of the Camfaids staff and beneficiaries have recently claim being the victims of violence by the residents of the Titi Garage neighborhood. In addition, they also claim the center’s security cameras and an exterior door were damaged.They claimed to have closed their Because of that harassment, the association closed its headquarters and social service center as a preventive measure during the week of July 16-24, 2017 as they claim. But Camfaids is continuing to fight against HIV and defend human rights in their own definition. Fight HIV among their community in Cameroon.

The Penal Code, Section 347a: “Any person who has sexual relations with a person of the same sex shall be punished with a term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of between 20,000-200,000 francs.” This article was entered into law by presidential decree in 1972